Dear diary, they called me stupid.

Sadie and Thomas shouted it out to the whole class when I got a math problem wrong. Mr Hollow told them off. But the rest of the class was already snickering. I made sure that I got every question correct after that. I’m sure that Sadie’s eyes were glued to the back of my head, watching, waiting for me to muck up. I wasn’t about to let her win.

So when the bell rang, I went straight to the library to do my homework. Sadie and Thomas followed me. They should’ve gotten detention. The librarian raised her eyebrow as they trailed right behind me. Thomas smile innocently. Sadie looped her arm through mine and pulled me behind a bookshelf. I yanked my arm back.

“What do you want?” I asked.

“This is a library,” she said slowly. “You’re meant to be quiet in here.”

“Why’re you speaking like that?”

Thomas joined us. “It’s so you can understand us. We don’t want you to feel bad just because you’re a little slow.”

It’s a miracle that I stayed calm.

“What do you want?” I asked again.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Sadie asked. “We want you to be our friend. Well, not really, but we want you to act like we’re all friends the next time a teacher tries telling us off. It’s not like we’ll ever end up in detention for joking around with our friend. So the next time we call you out for the lying idiot you are-.”

“I am not an idiot!” I shouted. “Now, please leave–me–alone.”

Thomas sighed. “She is so stupid.”

“I’m not-!”

The librarian loomed behind me. “Out now,” she said, eyes narrowed. “All of three of you.”

Sadie grinned and looped her arm around my neck. “I told you we should’ve practised our drama club auditions outside.”

I considered shoving her off me, but the librarian looked ready to murder us, so I glued my eyes to the floor as Sadie guided me out. The second we were outside, I slapped her hand away.

“Don’t touch me.”

Thomas laughed. “Turns out she’s got a temper. I bet we can get her suspended by the end of the week.”

I bit back my retort and grabbed my bag. They didn’t move. I stormed off. They didn’t follow. I’ve got to beat them. If I just keep calm and don’t let them get to me, then surely a teacher will realise what’s happening. I don’t know if anyone would believe me if I told them. It didn’t work for Danny at our last school, so why would telling a teacher work for me here? I can’t even tell Danny. This is nothing compared to what they went through. How can I just trench those memories up so I can vent? I’d be a terrible big sister.

What about Mum and Dad? No. They’ve been so stressed with the move. Plus, Mum has been kind of angry with me ever since I spoke up about Penelope. Penelope! I can go talk to her tomorrow. Maybe even before school. She’d believe me. And if she doesn’t... Well, I’m sure that Sadie and Thomas will get bored at some point this term. If not, then I’ll learn all the hiding spots at school. Maybe I’ll even go along with Sadie’s lie and finally try to join a club.

Everything will be fine, so long as we don’t move again.